Integrated personal media player and portable DVD/CD player

• US 7,869,195 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Patton
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Patton
• Inventors: Patton, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/372,950
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679.55, 361/679.56, 361/679.01, 381/334, 381/335, 381/333
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/10 Apparatus capable of using record carriers defined in more than one of the sub-groups G11B25/02 - G11B25/08; Adaptor devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/15 Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

A personal, portable media player capable of receiving and storing audio and video programming is adapted for coupling via a docking system to a portable Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Compact Disc (CD) player for playing and recording of video and audio programming. The docking system is integrated in the housing of the DVD/CD player and is adapted for receiving the media player and allowing video and audio data received by or stored in the media player to be presented on or stored in the DVD/CD player. When connected via the docking system to the portable DVD/CD player, the media player is disposed in a recessed portion of the DVD/CD player'"'"'s housing and is further protected by a transparent, removable cover connected to the housing and having an aperture therein to permit the user to provide selection/control inputs to the media player when connected to the DVD/CD player.

Claims

1. A portable multimedia player comprising:

a portable DVD/CD player for reproducing and displaying video signals and for reproducing and transmitting audio signals, said portable DVD/CD player including a housing having a recessed portion adapted to receive a personal media player, wherein said recessed portion is formed integrally with said housing, and wherein said recessed portion is disposed in an upper surface of said housing;

a personal media player capable of receiving and storing audio and video data, said personal media player including a first electrical connector for transmitting received and stored audio and video data in said personal media player, wherein said personal media player is disposed below the housing'"'"'s upper surface when positioned in said recessed portion, said personal media player including user responsive control input means and said protective cover includes an aperture therein to allow for access to said control input means by a user when said personal media player is disposed in said recessed portion under said protective cover;

a docking station attached to an outer portion of said housing and disposed within the recessed portion of said housing and electrically coupled to said portable DVD/CD player and adapted for receiving and electrical coupling to said personal media player for providing audio and video data received by or stored in said personal media player to said portable DVD/CD player for transmission by and display on said portable DVD/CD player, said docking station including a second electrical connector adapted for connection to said electrical connector for display and transmission of the video and audio data in said personal media player on said portable DVD/CD player; and

a protective cover comprised of transparent plastic and attached to said housing and movable between a first position wherein said protective cover is disposed over the recessed portion of said housing for protecting said personal media player and said docking station and a second position displaced from said recessed portion to allow the personal media player to be placed in or removed from said recessed portion.

2. The portable multimedia player of claim 1 further comprising hinge means for pivotally coupling said protective cover to said housing.

3. The portable multimedia player of claim 1 further comprising plural spaced slots disposed in said housing adjacent the recessed portion thereof for engaging said protective cover and for permitting sliding displacement of said protective cover between said first and said second positions.

4. The portable multimedia player of claim 1 further comprising restraining means disposed in the recessed portion of said housing for engaging and maintaining said personal media player in fixed position in the recessed portion of said housing.

5. The portable multimedia player of claim 4 wherein said restraining means is a conformable liner adapted for assuming the shape, configuration and size of said personal media player when placed in contact with said personal media player.

6. The portable multimedia player of claim 5 wherein said conformable liner is comprised of memory foam.

7. The portable multimedia player of claim 4 wherein said restraining means is a strap engaging said personal media player.

8. The portable multimedia player of claim 1 wherein said portable DVD/CD player includes a memory device for storing digital audio and video data and for downloading said digital audio and video data to said personal media player for transmission and display thereon.

9. The portable multimedia player of claim 1 further comprising a remote controller including user input means for allowing the control of said portable DVD/CD player and said personal media player by a remotely located user.